Iran, Iraq finalize bilateral defence cooperation

Tehran, Nov 16 : Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri has announced the final steps in the drafting of an Iran-Iraq defence cooperation charter, after meeting Iraqi Defence Minister Juma Inad Saadoun.

"The two countries have prepared a charter that is now in its final stages and will be signed in the near future," Xinhua news agency quoted Baqeri as saying on the sidelines of the meeting with Saadoun on Sunday.

"The purpose of this meeting is to develop and deepen security in both Iran and Iraq, but of course Iraq has faced several conspiracies in recent years."And now, as the Americans seek to redeploy terrorists in the region, this cooperation will provide better security for Iraq," he added.

The Iraqi Minister arrived in Tehran on November 13 to discuss military cooperation, official news agency IRNA reported.Baqeri said that Iran-Iraq defence cooperation will improve security in Iraq in the current situation, when the US "is seeking to redeploy terrorists in the region".

The two sides also discussed issues related to the defence industry, security in the common border, and cooperation under the form of exchanges of experience, joint military exercises and training, he added.